The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) hailed a group of seniors on Monday as digital pioneers, crediting their completion of the organisation’s Basic Computer Course for stepping boldly into the digital age.
At a brief recognition ceremony at BARP headquarters, president Marilyn Rice-Bowen told the graduates their achievement went far beyond learning how to use a keyboard.
“We gather to celebrate a remarkable achievement and the successful completion of your introduction to the Basic Computer Course,” she said. What may have initially been “about a course and keyboards”, she noted, became something far more meaningful as participants built confidence and found a new source of empowerment.
Some participants admitted their previous interaction with computers was limited, Rice-Bowen said.
“I’m certain that for some of you, the only contact with the computer was probably to clean around it or to move it, but certainly not to turn it on,” she said in a light-hearted moment. “Turning it on was not an option because it was something that you feared.”
That fear, she added, has now been replaced with confidence.
“You have taken an important step forward by embracing the tools that connect us and the digital spaces connect you. The digital space shortens the distance but at the same time expands your horizons because you could speak from the comfort of your own home to your family in New York, England, wherever your children, your grandchildren, so it does expand your horizons. It opens doors to new opportunities.”
Rice-Bowen praised the class for pushing beyond the common perception that advancing age limits learning.
“I want to applaud you for your courage because it’s only courageous people that take steps like this, particularly as we grow older, because as we grow older, you hear people say I too old for that,” she said. “But what you’re saying, what you have said today and what you’ve demonstrated over the last few weeks is that you’re never too old to learn and you’re in the right space here at BARP.”
She also hinted that more opportunities are on the horizon for the island’s seniors.
“We’re going to be offering some awesome programmes in another few weeks,” she said. “It’s all again geared towards our seniors and empowering you.”
Sheila Manning, one of the participants, described the course as both timely and rewarding. The structured format helped to strengthen skills she had previously tried to develop on her own, she said.
“It was an exciting break for me because I was sort of self-taught, but there were instances where I wasn’t sure what I was doing,” Manning told reporters. She expressed gratitude to course coordinator Jabari Weir for his support throughout the programme.
“I must say Jabari was very patient and I was quite delighted to complete the course,” she added, admitting she still has “one spot” where she feels weak and hopes to get additional help. “There are other things I want to learn as well, to defend myself out there and to be high tech.”
Manning stressed that keeping pace with technological change is essential, even in later years.
“We have to keep abreast when we hear about AI and things like that,” she said.
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